Our 16 Favorite LGBTQ Reality Stars Ever

The Great British Baking Show (2013)

The Great British Baking Show is known for its kind and cuddly contestants, but every year there’s one youngster who charms the babkas off of everyone. Ruby Tandoh was the shining star of her season. She was obscenely gorgeous and ridiculously insecure. Her quiet fight against her own nerves made her likable, but it’s what she’s done since Bake Off that makes her a role model. Tandoh has used her platform to rail against diet culture, homophobia, and the insidious elitism at the heart of foodie culture.–Meghan O’Keefe

Stream The Great British Baking Show Collection 2 on Netflix

Shahs of Sunset (2012-2018)

With or without the ‘stache, Reza’s not only often the hilarious voice of reason on Shahs of Sunset, he’s also let viewers into his personal life and his struggles where it clashes with his culture. He’s outspoken and outrageous, and that’s just the way we like him to be.–Lea Palmieri

Where to watch Shahs of Sunset

The Biggest Loser (2004-2014), Just Jillian (2016)

As one of the original trainers of NBC’s The Biggest Loser, Jillian Michaels was first introduced to the world as the ultimate hand-bodied, tough-talkin’ motivator for contestants trying to change their lives. Though she didn’t come out publicly until 2010, her life with now ex-fiancee Heidi Rhoades, their two children and her growing fitness empire was documented on the 2016 E! reality series, Just Jillian.–Karen Kemmerle

Where to watch The Biggest Loser

The Real World: Philadelphia (2004-2005), The Challenge: The Inferno II (2005), Queer Eye (2018-Present)

Is there truly anyone more qualified to dole out self-help advice than Karamo? When we first met Karamo on The Real World, he was a 23-year-old with a hard rep that earned him a spot on the Bad Asses team on a round of MTV’s The Challenge. What followed was a lot of IRL excess off-camera that he overcame and is now open about while helping people deal with their baggage on the most uplifting show on TV. Talk about a glow-up, Karamo Brown has lived it.–Brett White

Stream Queer Eye on Netflix

RuPaul’s Drag Race (2009-Present), RuPaul’s Drag U (2010-2012), RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars (2012-Present), Skin Wars (2014-2016)

It do take nerve to step out in public as a full glamazonian drag queen, and nerve is exactly what Mama Ru has. A living chapter of queer history, RuPaul has been commanding attention for 30 years. A testament to the Supermodel of the World’s tenacity, she didn’t even find her true calling as a competition show host/judge/mentor until a few decades into her showbiz life. Now RuPaul has brought drag to the masses, popularizing true queer stories starring real queer people.–BW

Where to watch RuPaul's Drag Race

Where to watch RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars

Project Runway (2007-2008, 2019-Present), Project Runway: Junior (2015-2017)

Fans knew there was something special about Christian Siriano as soon as then 21-year-old popped up in the fourth season of Project Runway. He had an innate confidence, a blithe onscreen presence, and an immense talent for sewing and design. Siriano didn’t just win his season, but he catapulted into the mainstream. (Even Amy Poehler played him in a sketch on Saturday Night Live.) However, Siriano’s real magic power is his ability to evolve to stay relevant. He’s not just the most successful Project Runway contestant ever; he’s matured into a real mentor and statesman of style.–MO

Where to watch Project Runway

Stream Project Runway: Junior on Hulu

The Real World: Hawaii (1999), The Challenge (2003-2009)

Ruthie went through A LOT on The Real World: Hawaii, but as an openly bisexual woman, she was also someone who brought a lot of awareness to viewers–and namely teens–across America. It wasn’t just her sexuality or pursued sobriety though — Ruthie proved to be a fascinating human at every turn during this season.–LP

Where to watch The Real World

Queer Eye for the Straight Guy (2003-2007), Top Chef (2007-2008), Chopped (2009-Present), Chopped Junior (2015-Present)

Long before Jonathan Van Ness was asking who gave her permission, the original Queer Eye for the Straight Guy introduced America to a “Fab Five” determined to help straight men break free of the doldrums of bland and boring masculinity. The series’s cast became instant celebs, but only one star has maintained a consistent hold on pop culture: Ted Allen. The show’s kind, intellectual food and wine expert managed to stay relevant thanks to a string of Food Network projects, including the monster smash Chopped. Allen’s sweet allure went beyond Queer Eye; it followed us into our very own kitchens.–MO

Stream Chopped on Hulu

Queer Eye (2018-Present)

Where would we be without Tan’s French tuck suggestions? Between Jonathan’s jokes and Antoni’s avocados, there’s always a lot of chaos in the world of Queer Eye and no one but the ever-fashionable France can calm everyone down. He’s this delightful show’s calming presence But more than that, France and his open conversations about what it’s like being a Pakistani gay man have made our national conversations about race and sexual orientation that much richer.–Kayla Cobb

Stream Queer Eye on Netflix

The Real Housewives of New Jersey (2011-2016)

Though she was never a full-time Housewives cast member, RHONJ star Rosie Pierri made a huge impact on Bravo audiences as one of the only openly gay people to regularly appear on any Housewives franchise. Sister to Kathy Walkile and cousin of Teresa Giudice and Joe Gorga, Pierri was funny, honest and always willing to play the role of peacemaker. We hope that Rosie, perpetually unlucky in love, wins the heart of a good woman and finds an extended family that truly appreciates her.–KK

Stream The Real Housewives of New Jersey on Hulu

The Real World: New Orleans (2000), The Challenge: Battle of the Seasons (2002)

Charming, articulate and totally swoon-worthy, Danny Roberts was an instant star when he arrived on The Real World: New Orleans. While Roberts was out and proud, he was dating an officer in the military whose face MTV chose to blur so that he wouldn’t face discharge. This was the first exposure to the harmful “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy for many viewers, and the effects of this form of discrimination were painfully illustrated by two sweet young men who just wanted to be together.–KK

Where to watch The Real World

RuPaul’s Drag Race (2013), RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars (2016), Dancing Queen (2018)

It takes a lot of charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent to shine brightest in the sea of diamonds that is RuPaul’s Drag Race’s legacy–and Alyssa Edwards has it all. A pageant queen that ain’t afraid to get weird or act a fool, this dancing queen spent a season of Drag Race and an iconic season on All Stars turning out as many catchphrases as lewks. From “backrolls” to “beast,” Edwards introduced us to Rigor Morris and a whole lot more.–BW

Where to watch RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars

Stream Dancing Queen on Netflix

Queer Eye (2018-Present)

Queer Eye’s Jonathan is so much more than a quippy one-liner machine, though his observations about “Bob Ross realism” are to die for. He’s a ray of positivity and optimism who makes all of television better. A lot of reality shows preach about the importance of self-love, but Van Ness embodies that important life lesson. Whether he’s mocking the biggest show on television in his own Emmy-nominated Gay of Thrones or transforming the lives of Queer Eye’s heroes, you can feel that Jonathan Van Ness truly loves himself and the people around him. And by recently coming out as non-binary and genderqueer, he’s blessed the world with another lesson in self-acceptance. We all need to be a bit more like Jonathan Van Ness.–KC

Stream Queer Eye on Netflix

The Rachel Zoe Project (2008-2010), It’s a Brad, Brad World (2012-2013)

From The Rachel Zoe Project to his own series It’s A Brad, Brad World on Bravo, Brad’s Goreski’s impeccable style was on display just as much as his positive attitude was (not to mention his infectious laugh). He’s now a Fashion Police staple on E! and remains for me, a straight woman, one of my top crushes.–LP

Where to watch The Rachel Zoe Project

Below Deck Mediterranean (2017-Present)

Captain Sandy Yawn is the glue that holds the dysfunctional Below Deck Med crew together. For the past three seasons, Captain Sandy (how dare you just call her Sandy) has managed yachtie drama, abrasive charter guests, and rough seas with ease, and she does it all with a no-B.S. attitude that, frankly, the world could use more of. Plus, she knows how to cut a damn prosciutto! We stan a queen with meat carving skills.–Claire Spellberg

Where to watch Below Deck Mediterranean

Project Runway (2004-2017), Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style (2007-2008), Under the Gunn (2014), Project Runway: Junior (2015-2017)

I am fully convinced that the universe created the reality TV genre just so Tim Gunn would have the perfect medium to host his warmth and wisdom. Gunn’s initial Project Runway gig was straightforward enough: take a stroll through the workroom and make sure the designers weren’t going off the deep end. Quickly, though, Gunn became much more than that. Not only is the equally stern and supportive Gunn the gold standard for all TV mentors, he has been absolutely vital representation for queer people over 50. Through his consistent presence on TV for 15+ years, Gunn has even shown queer people of all ages–myself deeply included–that people from our community have the dignity, compassion, and grace to inspire those around them for decades. In a culture (and TBH genre) that prizes the flippancy and excess of youth, Tim Gunn’s endurance proves that there is no end to the rainbow.–BW

Stream Project Runway on Hulu

Stream Project Runway: Junior on Hulu